Six Irish bid for US Open spots today

Graeme McDowell celebrates his 2010 US Open win. Picture © Brian Keogh

Former winner Graeme McDowell joins Tom McKibbin, Seamus Power, Padraig Harrington, club professional Sean Quinlivan and amateur Patrick Keeling in 36-hole Final Qualifying for the US Open today.

They are among the hundreds teeing it up at ten qualifying sites - nine in the US and one in Canada - on what is dubbed golf’s longest day.

McKibbin will bid to qualify for Oakmont and his second US Open at Duke University Golf Club in North Carolina, where seven places are on offer, before playing this week’s LIV Golf Virginia event at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club from Friday.

Fellow LIV Golf member McDowell(45), who won the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2010, plays for one of four spots at Emerald Dunes Golf Club in West Palm Beach, looking to tee it up in the event for the first time since he missed the cut at Winged Foot in 2020.

Three-time major winner Harrington (53) plays in the same qualifier as Roganstown amateur Keeling at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in Columbus, Ohio, where six places are available.

Harrington has played in 17 US Opens and posted five top-10 finishes. 

He tied for 27th in 2023 at The Los Angeles Country Club after earning an exemption as the reigning US Senior Open champion. 

His best result is a tie for fourth behind Webb Simpson in 2012 at The Olympic Club.

Keeling, the older brother of former European Junior Ryder Cup player Sean, has just completed his Junior year at the University of Louisville.

The Dubliner won one of five spots at Local Qualifying at Tradional Golf Club in Kentucky on May 7, carding a 70 to finish tied for third.

Kerry native Quinlivan, now the Head Professional at Shinnecock Hills, will bid for one of five spots at Canoe Brook Country Club in New Jersey.

Power tees it up seeking one of seven spots at Lambton Golf & Country Club in Ontario before joining the already-qualified Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry in the RBC Canadian Open later this week.

Lowry is looking forward to returning to Oakmont, where he had a four-stroke lead heading into the final round in 2016 but shot 76 to finish tied for second, three shots behind Dustin Johnson.